Noel Gallagher has been confirmed as the BRIT Awards’ 2026 Songwriter of the Year, a career-spanning honour that arrives amid the huge success of Oasis’ long-awaited reunion. The announcement coincides with the BRITs’ move to Manchester, the city where Noel and Liam Gallagher grew up and formed Oasis in 1991.
The ceremony will take place at Co-op Live Arena on February 28, with Noel set to attend in person to accept the award.
The accolade is decided by an expert judging panel and places Gallagher alongside recent recipients such as Ed Sheeran (2022), Kid Harpoon (2023), RAYE (2024), and Charli xcx (2025).
This marks the first BRIT Award win for either Gallagher in 16 years. The last time Oasis were recognised was in 2010, when (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? received the British Album of 30 Years award. That moment became infamous after Liam Gallagher collected the prize, hurled it — and his microphone — into the crowd, then exited the stage, prompting host Peter Kay to later brand him “a knobhead” on air.
Despite that chaos, Oasis’ legacy at the BRITs is formidable. The band claimed British Breakthrough Act in 1995, followed by three more wins in 1996 during the height of the Britpop era, famously clashing with rivals Blur. Their final BRIT came in 2007, when they were awarded Outstanding Contribution to Music, two years before the band’s split.
Noel’s relationship with the awards hasn’t always been smooth. In 2015, he criticised the ceremony, telling the BBC it was “rigged” and “a bit of a carve-up between the majors.” He later added, “Don’t let this put you off giving me a table. I like award ceremonies and all that social scene — it’s a good laugh.” The BRITs strongly denied the claims at the time.
The latest recognition follows the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour, which reunited Noel and Liam for the first time since 2009. The global run spanned the UK and Ireland, North America, Latin America, and East Asia, triggering a major resurgence in the band’s catalogue and sending multiple classics back to the top of the UK charts.
Noel is credited as the sole songwriter on Oasis’ first three albums — Definitely Maybe (1994), (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), and Be Here Now (1997) — which together formed the backbone of the reunion tour’s setlists.
Meanwhile, BRIT Awards 2026 nominations, announced in late January, saw Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead with five nominations each. Sam Fender followed with four, while Dave, Jim Legaxcy, Wolf Alice, Fred again.., and Lily Allen secured three apiece. Dean and Wolf Alice will perform on the night, alongside a highly anticipated live comeback from Harry Styles.
Commenting on Gallagher’s win, Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said:
“For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story — bold, brilliant, and always recognisable. His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally. Honouring Noel as Songwriter of the Year celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on February 28 in Manchester.
